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			<h1>Overview</h1>
				<p>National Open Source Conference of Afghanistan (NOSCA) is a consultation of Afghanistan’s Free/ Open Source Software (FOSS) users, developers and advocates. It brings together diverse stakeholders, people and institutions to discuss the most pressing issues of our time, the information communication technologies (ICTs), particularly freedom of software technologies, standards, systems, data and content. NOSCA is held every year at a different Afghan city to spread the message across the country. </p>

<p>NOSCA 2013, with this year’s theme of <i>Apps, Content, Localization,</i> presents research and industry papers, presentations, tutorials, thematic sessions, panels, hands-on training workshops and project demonstrations. These sessions and workshops will be provided by top notched leaders from government, industry, civil society and academia, making it a unique plate-form for learning and sharing knowledge and experience.</p>

			<h2>Main goals of this conference are:</h2>
			<ol>
<li>Creating awareness among professionals, policy and decision makers, business leaders, technology experts, consumers and the general public on the most recent technological advancements in FOSS; </li>
<li>Sharing updates on national, regional, and international FOSS related initiatives, and presenting reports on FOSS developments, plans, programs, challenges and opportunities;</li>
<li>Training individuals on the up-to-date FOSS technologies through hands-on training workshops and conference sessions;</li> 
<li>Introducing innovative Free/ Open Source technologies through thematic workshops and a technology exhibition and an IT support camp where different FOSS technologies installation will be carried out; </li>
<li>Discussing policy issues and recommending reforms through a policy review and debate session;</li>
<li>Mobilizing local FOSS communities and facilitating coordination and cooperation among various stakeholders in Afghanistan.</li>
			</ol>
			
			<p>The Conference has a National focus and a holistic outlook, bringing together around 250 delegates and speakers from government, academic, industry, IT professionals, computer scientists, software developers, system engineers, policy and decision makers, business leaders, students, young women and men and the mass media.</p>
 <p class="alert alert-success">Interested International speakers and delegates residing outside Afghanistan are welcome to <a href="involved.html#speak" class="btn btn-primary">apply</a></p>

 			<h2>Mission & Objectives:</h2>
<p class="lead">The Mission of NOSCA 2013 is to: <b>Provide a National platform for social and economic development through: a) Exchanging ideas, knowledge and experience around open source technologies; and b) Creating national dialogue on enhancing business, policy and regulatory environments.</b></p>

			<p class="muted"><b>The Objectives of the NOSCA 2013 are: </b> 

			<ol type="1"><li><b>Awareness and Knowledge Sharing-</b> NOSCA 2013 evaluates the current state of FOSS in country, and creates awareness and knowledge sharing by:
					<ol type="I">
					<li>Introducing various FOSS technologies; </li>
					<li>Identifying and promoting the role and application of FOSS in development of open educational resources;</li>
					</ol>
					
				
			</li>
			
			<li>
			<b>Training and Education-</b> NOSCA 2013 builds the skills of young professionals in FOSS technologies and enhance their employability through: 
			<ol>
				<li>Hands on lab training on various open source technologies;</li>
				<li>Interactive thematic breakout sessions;</li>
				<li>Mentoring discussions and exchange of ideas with experts and business entrepreneurs; </li>
			</ol>

			</li>
			
			<li><b>Innovative Technologies-</b> NOSCA 2013 creates a platform for showcasing, developing and sharing innovative technologies through: 
				<ol>
				<li>Ideas on integrating FOSS in the development programs in business, education, culture, communication and information;</li>
				<li>Promoting FOSS usage and continued localization of the tools and applications; </li>
				<li>Advancing free access to information and knowledge that contributes to poverty eradication;</li>
				</ol>
			</li>

			<li>
			<b>Public Policy-</b> NOSCA 2013 helps reform policies to ensure flexible, equitable and transparent policy environment that serves the needs of the Afghan society considering their socioeconomic conditions. This is carried out through: 
				<ol>
				<li>Conducting policy review and advocacy sessions </li>
				<li>Policy recommendations and reform; </li>
				</ol>

			
			</li>
			
			<li>
			<b>National Cooperation-</b> The conference ensures national cooperation and coordination among various stakeholders in Afghanistan through: 
			<ol>
				<li>Identifying users, professionals and supporters of the FOSS technologies in Afghanistan;</li> 
				<li>Identifying projects and programs in FOSS;</li>
				<li>Bringing together FOSS users from across the country to share information, knowledge and experiences to collaborate and coordinate efforts;</li>
				<li>Identifying, developing and promoting standards across the country; </li>
				<li>Launch task-forces and committees on various FOSS issues; </li>

			</ol>
			</li>
			</ol>
			
			<h2>Institutions Behind:</h2>
			<p class="lead">National Open Source Conference of Central Asia (NOSCA) 2013 is organized by Open Source Afghanistan (OSA), a FOSS user-group in the country, and National ICT Alliance of Afghanistan (NICTAA), a consortium of the Afghan ICT players, in partnership with Computer Science Faculty of Nangarhar University, and TechNation Serves as the technology partner at the event. The event is hosted by Nangarhar University. </p>
			<hr/>
			
			<p><a href="http://www.opensource.af" target="_blank"><img src="assets/img/osa.png" class="pull-left" rel="tooltip" title="Go to the Open Source Afghanistan Official Website"></a>
			OSA is an association of Free/ Open Source Software (FOSS) users, advocates, developers, trainers, educators, and experts in policy in Afghanistan. It was formed in 2009 by a group of young thoughtful citizens of Afghanistan to help promote FOSS across the country. 
			</p>
			<p>
			Open Source Afghanistan is aimed at creating awareness on the open source software: training young professionals and software users on various FOSS technologies; advocating for adopting open standards, open content and technologies; building a knowledge network of diverse stakeholders in academia, industry, civil society and government; creating user-groups and task forces on different FOSS related themes; building a national network of FOSS users so they can collaborate and share knowledge and experiences; and connecting the Afghan FOSS user-groups with the regional and international FOSS communities and support groups so they are active partners in the global FOSS development process. 
			</p>
			<p>
			OSA believes Afghanistan cannot make the progress we want without a widespread use and adoption of information and communication technology (ICT), especially software that is affordable, cost effective and efficient as well as adjusted as per the cultural and social needs of our country. 
			</p>
			<hr/>
			
			<p><a href="http://www.nictaa.af" target="_blank"><img src="assets/img/nictaa.png" class="pull-left" rel="tooltip" title="Go to the NICTAA Official Website"></a>
			NICTAA is Afghanistan’s umbrella association, a consortium of ICT players in private sector, civil society, and academia, NICTAA serves as the visionary entity for ICT in Afghanistan. It organizes its activities based on its five strategic directions: Leadership, Education, Policy, Advocacy, and Industries. NICTAA helps enhance policies and regulations, develop human capacity and promote innovation, ensure the protection of intellectual property rights, and help develop national strategies for the growth and development of ICT as a sector and a tool. 
			</p>
			<p>
			NICTAA holds biannual National ICT Congress of Afghanistan and annual Public Policy Conferences and periodic trade and policy meetings to discuss the most critical issues of our time. NICTAA’s members include 4 telecom operators, 7 associations, including National ISP Association (NISPAA), Afghan Computer Science Association (ACS), and Open Source Afghanistan (OSA), software and hardware vendors, and around 5 renowned universities. NICTAA is a member of World IT and Services Alliance (WITSA), Open Source Alliance of Central Asia (OSACA) and various national and international institutions helping develop ICT industries across the region. <a href="http://www.nictaa.af" target="_blank">more</a>.
			</p>
			<hr/>
			
			<p><a href="http://www.nu.edu.af" target="_blank"><img src="assets/img/nu.png" class="pull-left" rel="tooltip" title="Go to the Nangarhar University Official Website"></a>
			Nangarhar University is Afghanistan’s second largest university and widely recognized for the quality education it has been providing. It has been serving in the eastern zone of the country for the last 47 years in educating and training professionals in different fields to serve in public and private sectors. It has presented many well-trained cadre to society who are constantly working to serve the country in different sectors of life. 
			</p>
			<p>
			The mission of NU as an academic higher education institute is to “educate a new generation of young people in different disciplines in order to serve the society, region and the world. It endeavors to lead in providing solutions to the current issues and problems through research. All in all, NU strives to be among the leading institutions to bring about peace, solidarity, dignity and prosperity to the society.
			</p>
			<p>
			NU’s Faculty of Computer Science, located in Jalalabad city, has three departments, namely, Data Base Department, Network Department, and Software Engineering Department. It currently has about four hundred (400) students. This faculty has an extensive area in which there is a fully equipped computer lab, a library and a playground that serves the needs of its students.
			</p>
			<hr/>
			<p><a href="http://www.technation.af" target="_blank"><img src="assets/img/tn.png" class="pull-left" rel="tooltip" title="Go to the TechNation Official Website"></a>
			TechNation is our technology partner. It is a first class IT services and technology research and policy solutions provider in Afghanistan. TechNation is emerging as a distinctive tech firm providing institutions and citizens with the leading-edge information technology services and solution. 
			</p>
			<p>
			Governed and managed by a team of top-notched ICT industry leaders, academics and researchers, TechNation is a unique platform to help enhance productivity of diverse business sectors. We ensure this by offering a range of technology support services and solutions, including: 
			</p>
			<ul>
			<li>Electronic Services</li>
			<li>Software Application Development</li>
			<li>Technology Infrastructure</li>
			<li>Telecenter Infrastructure Development</li>
			<li>Policy Research and Formulation</li>
			<li>IT Strategies</li>
			<li>and Skill Building Trainings</li>
			<li><a href="http://www.technation.af" target="_blank">more.</a></li>
			</ul>
			
			<div class="well">
			<h2>Venue:</h2>
			<p>
			The City of Jalalabad was given the honor to host the 1st National Open Source Conference of Afghanistan (NOSCA). Jalalabad is known for its greenery, large and beautiful gardens, autorickshaws, multicultural environment, traditional dresses, and chapli-kabab and now fish. It is widely recognized as an intellectual hub of Afghanistan.  
			</p>
			
			<p>
			The city’s largest educational institution, the Nangarhar University, located at Darunta, will function as the main NOSCA 2013 venue.  
			</p>
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Event by: OSA, NICTAA | Hosted by: Nangarhar University | In collaboration with: <a href="http://www.technation.af" target="_blank">TECHNATION</a> | <a href="http://www.osa.af" target="_blank">Open Source Afghanistan</a>
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